MARRIAGE: Aaron BEYER to Lydia RAMEY, 1831, Blair County, PA

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FIFTY YEARS MARRIED.
Anniversary of Aaron and Lydia Beyer's Golden Wedding - Family History.

  Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Beyer celebrated their golden wedding yesterday at 
their lovely and comfortable residence at Beyer's Mills, in Antis 
township.  Fifty years ago they were joined in the holy bonds of 
matrimony and began life's work in a little house near Union Furnace, 
he in the old mill which has long since decayed and Mrs. Beyer in the 
careful management of her household affairs.  In 1833 they moved to 
their present location.  David Beyer, the father of the host, settled 
in Sinking valley about the year 1800, and built the first grist mill 
and the first brick house.  There is scarcely a vestige of this mill 
remaining, while the house is still standing and compares favorably 
with some built since.  He was the pioneer Methodist in that section 
and went about doing good.  He raised a large family, all of which have 
passed away but three - Abraham Beyer, who now lies in all probability 
on his death-bed; Rebecca Betts, the only sister, who resides in Akron, 
Ohio, who by reason of infirmities and the inclement season, could not 
be present, and Aaron Beyer, the youngest of the family, who to-day 
celebrates the anniversary of his golden wedding.
  The parents of Mrs. Beyer were Frederick and Martha Ramey.  Frederick 
Ramey was born in Germany, December 14, 1785, and died July 4, 1866.  
He, too, was an exemplary and devout man.  He married Martha Keller in 
1807, who was one of God's chosen women.  This union was blessed with 
twelve children - five sons and seven daughters.  Two died in infancy - 
a son and a daughter - the others all grew to manhood and womanhood.  
Jacob Ramey, the eldest son, died on July 20, 1855; Lydia, the eldest 
daughter, married Aaron Beyer, the subject of our congratulations to-
day; Daniel, Mary, Ann, David K., Elizabeth, Solomon and Barbara, all 
of whom have reared families except the latter, who never married.  For 
thirty years before her death Mrs. Ramey made it a rule to read the 
Bible through once each year, and she could repeat chapter after 
chapter of it readily.  She was kind-hearted, had a sweet face and an 
amiable disposition.
  Mr. and Mrs. Beyer are a well-preserved couple.  Mr. Beyer is a 
powerfully-built man, about six feet in height and weighs nearly two 
hundred pounds.  His hair is silvered and stands up in true Jacksonian 
style.  He is quite active and strong and was in doubt as to whether 
any of his company in a wrestling match could put him down.  Mrs. Beyer 
is a medium-sized woman, with few silver threads in her massive dark 
hair.  Possessing a sweet face, like her sainted mother, tells of the 
amiable disposition that rules her spirit.  Like their parents, they 
have obeyed the words of the Psalmist: "Trust in the Lord and do good; 
so shall thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed."  They 
have performed the double duty, and in a green old age are reaping the 
benefits of the double promise - dwelling in the land and having 
plenty.  
  Of the children of Aaron and Lydia Beyer living are F. D. Beyer, one 
of Tyrone's best business men, who, in the face of misfortunes, has 
reared a large family and accumulated quite a fortune; Liza, the good 
wife of George W. Kessler, a prominent business man and druggist of the 
city of Altoona; Martha, the wife of our highly-esteemed and energetic 
business man of Altoona, James H. Dysart; James, who for years has been 
serving very acceptably in the office of the gospel ministry of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and whose labors the Master has so signally 
blessed, and whose future seems so full of hope; Westley, named after 
the immortal father of Methodism, but recently married, and although 
young has already won a deservedly good name as a first-class business 
man; Sarah, who had married the late Rev. Mr. Bain, that noble man of 
God, whose zeal for the cause of Christ knew no bounds, and whose early 
death has cast such a dark cloud over her path through this life; Miss 
Kate, who like a good daughter, has remained at home, thus rendering 
untold service and help to her aged parents, and last, but not least, 
William, the law student for whose success and welfare we all so fondly 
hope.  Three of their children will celebrate their silver weddings 
this year, Mrs. James H. Dysart in March, Mrs. George W. Kessler in 
November, and F. D. Beyer in December.
  Among the many letters of congratulation received by Mr. and Mrs. 
Beyer, we print the following:

                                   PITTSBURGH, January 10, 1881.
  Dear Uncle and Aunt: As it will not be possible for us to present our 
acknowledgements of your kind remembrance in person, permit us, in this 
very informal manner, to extend our most hearty congratulations, and to 
express the hope that the love, serene and truthful, which has passed 
the crystal and silvery periods and now ripened into golden hue, may 
continue to shed its living luster upon your pilgrimage for many years, 
and that a diamond ceremony may sparkle in the shadows of a twilight 
filled with peaceful memories and happy anticipations.  Affectionately, 
etc.,
    JOHN W. AND MARY E. RENNER.

  Among the large number of guests present were the following: F. D. 
Beyer and wife, Mrs. George W. Kessler, Mrs. James H. Dysart, Rev. J. 
S. Beyer, presiding elder in the Virginia Conference, Miss Kate B. 
Beyer, Wesley Beyer, Mrs. W. I. Bain, Ed. Waring and wife, W. M. Beyer, 
Daniel K. Ramey and daughter, David K Ramey and wife, Mrs. Thomas 
McCauley and daughter, Mrs. T. B. Patton, Michael Bridenbaugh and wife, 
D. D. Morrell and wife, Rev. George Guyer and wife, the venerable 
father Elisha Butler and wife, Perry Fleck and wife, Charles McCauley 
and wife, Frank Waring and wife, S. Baer and wife, Mrs. Rachel Ramey, 
Mrs. Conrad and son, Mrs. J. M. Snowden, Mr. and Mrs. Aults, Miss Annie 
Renner, Hon. Samuel McCamant and wife, W. L. Akers and the senior of 
the TRIBUNE.
  There were a number of valuable presents given to the venerable pair.  
There was a bounteous repast set for the company.  The table was laden 
with luxuries and substantials, and presented a much more beautiful 
sight at the beginning than at the end of the feast.  There were 
eighteen persons at one of the tables, whose ages averaged 64 years.  
On the whole, the golden anniversary was a success, and the entire 
company were highly pleased with their entertainment, and host and 
hostess with the congratulations and substantial testimonial bestowed 
upon them.  May they live many years to receive the homage of loving 
children and relatives.
 
Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, January 13, 1881